For the first time, in addition to projects that the region’s transportation agencies expect to be able to afford between now and 2045, the plan includes aspirational projects, programs, and policies that go beyond financial constraints. Though the focus of the financially constrained element (those items they expect to be able to afford) is on regionally significant road and transit projects, Visualize 2045 also highlights bicycle and pedestrian projects, freight planning, and other transportation programs aimed at reducing congestion and improving air quality.

The aspirational initiatives are:

1. Bring jobs and housing closer together2. Expand bus rapid transit regionwide3. Move more people on Metrorail4. Increase telecommuting and other options for commuting5. Expand the express highway network6. Improve walk and bike access to transit7. Complete the National Capital Trail - a circumferential route around the core of the region

With the glaring exception of 5, this is the framework of a partial Vision Zero plan. Because as I've mentioned getting people to drive less is the best way to reduce road deaths.

Here are some highlights from the report.

They talk about CaBi.

Capital Bikeshare has grown from 1,100 bikes at 114 stations in the District of Columbia and Arlington County, to over 4,300 bikes at 500 stations in five jurisdictions today. Over this time, the number of annual trips taken on the system has more than doubledfrom 1.5 million per year to over 3.7 million.

DDOT is proposing adding six new segments to its existing bicycle path network. The following projects will remove one or more traffic lanes to allow for separated bicycle lanes.

• Pennsylvania Ave. SE from 2nd St./Independence Ave. to Barney Circle (1.3 miles) - This project will connect the Anacostia River Trail with bicycle lanes through Capitol Hill to the downtown core. In addition, it will provide cyclist access to bike lanes on Pennsylvania Ave west of the Capitol, and to the Metropolitan Branch Trail. It will reduce off-peak lane capacity from 6 to 4 lanes between 2nd and 14th Streets. During peak hours the existing 6 lanes will be utilized. Between 14th Street and Barney Circle, rush hour lane capacity will be reduced from 8 lanes to 6 lanes; the 6 lane off-peak capacity would be unchanged. • 17th St. NW from New Hampshire Ave. to K St. (<1 mile) - Install two-way protected bike lane on 17th Street NW. This would replace the existing southbound-only conventional bike lane currently in place between New Hampshire Avenue NW and Massachusetts Avenue NW, and continue south to K Street NW. This project is intended to increase bicycle accessibility on a busy corridor for bicycling, and to provide an alternative facility to the congested 15th Street NW protected bike lane.• K St. from 7th St. NW to 1st St. NE (<1 mile) - Install bike lanes (protected in places) along K Street NW/NE. This bikeway would connect Downtown, NoMa, and the Mt Vernon Triangle. • K St. from 1st St. NE to Florida Ave. NE (<1 mile) - Road diet to remove peak hour parking restrictions and provide full time parking along project limits. Peak hour restrictions are directional, 3 to 2 lane. Bicycle lanes will be provided between 1st St NE and 6th St NE. Reduction of one eastbound portal under rail (between 1st and 2nd Sts) to a provide two-way cycle track is currently under consideration with some opposition. • Irving St. from Warder St. NW to Michigan Ave. NE (1 mile) - Install protected bike lanes on Irving Street NE/NW. This bikeway would connect through McMillan-Old Soldier’s Home to Brookland. • New York Ave. NE from Florida Ave. to Bladensburg Rd. (2.3 miles) -The New York Avenue Streetscape and Trail Project is a 30% design plan to install streetscape improvements including lighting, new sidewalk connections, landscaping, traffic signals and signage and a raised cycletrack along New York Avenue NE from Florida Avenue NE to Bladensburg Road NE.

Elsewhere

Walking and biking are forecast to increase at much higher rates than any other mode of travel

The Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved the latest Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) and it includes a few trail projects.

In Fairfax County there's $656,000 for the Mount Vernon Trail Bridge 12 Replacement. Bridge #12 is located approximately 1/4 mile north of the southbound Fort Hunt exit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway along the Mount Vernon Trail (which is here). The project will remove the existing bridge and construct a new bridge 50 ft west of the existing structure.

Study the feasibility of building a tunnel connection under the freight rail tracks to connect the area west of the tracks to the Metro station and the Braddock neighborhood. Completion of the tunnel would provide a new station entry from the west, minimizing the distance pedestrians must walk to access the station from the west. Currently, pedestrians must walk south to the Braddock Road underpass to reach the station. In addition, the plan recommends studying a potential future pedestrian-bike connection and a potential walking route connection to the northern gateway.

This project will construct a two-way bicycle and pedestrian trail connection between Mill Road (near the intersection with Eisenhower Avenue) and the existing trail located to the east of Hooffs Run to create a more direct and conflict-free connection for bicyclists and pedestrians between the Eisenhower East and Southwest Quadrant neighborhoods.

Finally there's $6M for phase I of the Backlick Run Multiuse trail - to construct a shared-use path along Backlick Run from Boothe Park, west to the Fairfax County line.

In Arlington, there's $750,000 for Capital Bikeshare expansion as well as bridge rehabs that might include bicycle elements.